Travel info Copper Canyon Lodges

We are the booking agents for some of the loveliest lodges in the Copper Canyon. We can assist you with all of your travel plans including train reservations to the Copper Canyon, local transportation once you have arrived in the area and truck rentals in the Copper Canyon.

Visitors from the U.S. need a valid passport to enter Mexico.

Getting to Creel by train from Chihuahua or Los Mochis:

Traverse the most rugged railroad in the Western Hemisphere onboard the First Class ChePe Train, which departs daily for Creel from Los Mochis and Chihuahua. Fares are payable at the train station in Chihuahua or Los Mochis by cash or major credit card at time of departure. Advance reservations may be made by calling us at 800-776-3942. A reservation fee of $15 per adult will be charged to your credit card at time of confirmation. The change fee is $15 per adult. Fee's are not refundable. We can arrange to meet you at the train station in Creel and transfer you to the Sierra Lodge for $35 (up to 6 people).

Chihuahua Train Schedule: Chihuahua City to Creel: $63/each way
Departs Chihuahua City 6 am - arrives Creel 11:26 am
Departs Creel 2:14 pm - arrives Chihuahuah City 7:50 pm

Los Mochis Train Schedule: Los Mochis to Creel: $75/each way
Departs Los Mochis 6 am - arrives Creel 2:14 pm
Departs Creel 11:26 am - arrives Los Mochis 7:50 pm

Getting to Los Mochis:

By Plane - Aeromexico/Aerolitoral (tel. 800/237-6639 in the U.S. for reservations) has direct service from Phoenix, Chihuahua, Hermosillo, Mazatlán, and La Paz. Aero California (tel. 800/237-6225 in the U.S.) flies to and from Tucson, Los Angeles, La Paz, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Culiacán, and Tijuana. The airport is 21km (13 miles) north of town; transportation is by combi (collective minivan) or airport taxi (around $20). We can make hotel reservations for you in either Los Mochis or El Fuerte and we can make train reservations for you the following day to the Copper Canyon.

Getting to Chihuahua City:

By Plane - Continental Airlines(tel. 800/525-0280) has nonstop service to and from Houston on a 50-seat jet. Aeromexico/Aerolitoral (tel. 800-237-6639) flies direct from El Paso, Phoenix, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, Mexico City, Monterrey, Torreón, Tijuana, Culiacán, La Paz, and Los Mochis, with connecting flights from Los Angeles and San Antonio. Transportes Terrestre controls minivan service from the airport (around $6 per person, $10 if it's an early flight). Taxis from town charge around $20 for up to four people. We can make hotel reservations for you in Chihuahuah and we can make train reservations for you the following day to the Copper Canyon.

By Bus - Buses leave Chihuahua for Creel every 2 hours from the main bus terminal in Chihuahua between 6am and 6pm. Direct buses make the trip in 4 hours and cost around $30.

Getting to Creel by Bus or Van Service

Van Service: There is a van shuttle service from El Paso, Texas to Creel. Drive time is about 7 hours and the cost is $600/one way for up to 10 people. You can arrange to be picked up at the airport or a hotel in El Paso.

Bus Service: El Paso, Texas is just across the border from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico and you can hire a taxi to take you to the bus station in Ciudad Juárez for about $40. Transportes Chihuahuenses, Omnibus de Mexico and Transportes del Norte offer first-class service from Ciudad Juárez every half hour; the trip takes 4 and a half hours and costs about $25. For travel to Creel, look for the Estrella Blanca or Noroeste buses at the Chihuahua bus terminal. Buses leave for Creel every 2 hours from 6am to 6pm. Direct buses make the trip in 4 hours and cost around $20. It is possible to make connections in one day departing El Paso in the morning and arriving in Creel in the late afternoon.

Truck Rentals in Creel

2005-2007 Nissan crew cab, standard transmission trucks can be rented for $120/day, picnic lunch included. The truck is available in Creel and will give you the flexibility to explore the canyon at your leisure. Advance reservations are crucial.

Driving to the Copper Canyon

Folks who are accustomed to driving in Mexico will have an easy time driving to Creel and to the Sierra Lodge from the United States borders in Texas (Presidio or El Paso) and Arizona (Douglas)., It’s a full day’s drive (8 - 10 hours) from all of these locations but decent roads make it enjoyable. We can give you driving directions from Creel to the Sierra Lodge (all paved roads). The road going down to Batopila is a gravel and dirt road that 2 wheel drive vehicles with good clearance can handle when the road conditions are dry.

Inportant Information about crossing the border into Mexico with your car:

1. Documents: Bring with you the original and one photocopy of each of the following documents: passport, completed Mexican tourist card, vehicle registration certificate or other document that certifies the legal owner of the vehicle - this document must be in the name of the person who will be driving the vehicle into Mexico, leasing contract, if the vehicle is leased or rented, in the name of the person who will be driving the vehicle into Mexico, valid drivers license, issued outside Mexico.
2. International Credit Card: Also bring with you an international credit, such as Visa or Mastercard, issued in the name of the vehicle owner. If you do not have an international credit card, you will be required to post a bond or make a large cash deposit, as described below.
3. Temporary Vehicle Importation Permit & Fee: At the border entry point, present the originals and photocopies of these documents to Customs to process the temporary vehicle import permit. The original of this permit will be given to you once processed. Your international credit card will be charged an amount of about US$15 as a fee for the processing of the import permit. If you do not have such a credit card, you will have to post a bond or make a cash deposit in an amount equal to the estimated value of your vehicle. Most of your deposit will be returned to you when you leave Mexico with the vehicle. The temporary vehicle import permit is valid for a period of up to six months. The vehicle to which the permit relates may be driven across the border multiple times during this authorized period.
4. Departing Mexico: Upon your departure from Mexico, the temporary vehicle import permit must be surrendered to Customs for cancellation - unless the vehicle is going to be driven back into Mexico and the authorized time period of the permit has not yet expired.
5. Other Considerations: (a) When driving in Mexico make sure that you always carry the import permit with you.
(b) If your vehicle is found in Mexico beyond the authorized time period in the permit, or without the appropriate documents, it may be confiscated. (c) The sale or commercial use of the vehicle while in Mexico may also result in its seizure and confiscation. (d) The temporarily imported vehicle may be driven in Mexico by the owner and by his spouse or adult children, provided that they all have valid drivers licenses. Other persons are prohibited from driving the vehicle unless the owner is a passenger in the vehicle at the time. (e) Your automobile insurance is unlikely to be valid once you cross the border into Mexico. Mexican automobile insurance covering the duration of your intended stay in Mexico can be easily purchased in border towns on the U.S. side of the border.
6. Additional Information: For additional information, or to ensure that the relevant requirements have not changed, individuals traveling to Mexico by vehicle should, before commencing their trip, contact the Mexican Consulate nearest their home.